Alexander named chairperson of Summit Hill Water Authority

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

By DAVID WARGO TN Correspondent tneditor@tnonline.com

The Summit Hill Water Authority has a new acting Chairperson as the board moved to elect newest member Louis Alexander on a 4-0 vote. Alexander will be filling the position in the absence of Chairperson Patrick Kane who is excused for personal reasons for the moment.

"We need someone who is available during the day especially as this solar project is going on," said Vice Chairperson Robert Collevechio prior to moving to name Alexander as the acting head. "I have a job and cannot fill the position currently which is why I think it's best that someone who is available during the day take the position."

Alexander, whose professional career before retiring was in water and waste water treatment, accepted the position and the vote was unanimous with no further comment. After the vote, Alexander took control of the remainder of the meeting.

In other business, Alexander said the permit for the pump for well three was received with the correspondence. Engineer Mike Tirpak said now that the permit is in the water authority's hands the organization has two years to obtain the parts and fix the pump. Work Leader Butch Kane said the parts were already ordered and delivered.

The board also tabled a $100 a month stipend for a "work manager" for the authority. In the past the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson were eligible to receive the stipend, but Collevechio said he refused it in the past. Alexander tabled the issue until a later date.

The authority also approved a bill from Carbon Engineering for water testing that was required by DEP for the annual drinking water quality report. The $1525 amount was approved on a 4-0 vote.

A request for the remuneration of a license for former Chairperson John "Chet" Michalik was received by the board. The license cost was $60 which Michalik asked the board to pay. Alexander said he felt that if the former chairperson wanted to maintain the credential it should be up to him to do so since he is no longer a member of the authority. No action was taken on the request.

The board also purchased a waterproof, shockproof camera to document work being done in the community so that a record would be available for later. The camera which cost $220 was approved on a 4-0 motion.